the camels had better be treated well....or else they will have me to deal with
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...th/4930094.stm
Camel's milk could hit UK shelves
Camel's milk could become the latest super food to hit the shelves of health food shops and upmarket retailers.
The United Nations is calling for the milk, which is rich in vitamins B and C and has 10 times more iron than cow's milk, to be sold to the West.
Camel's milk, which is slightly saltier than traditional milk, is drunk widely across the Arab world and is well suited to cheese production.
Harrods and Fortnum & Mason are said to be interested in the product.
As well as its high mineral and vitamin content, research has suggested that antibodies in camel's milk can help fight diseases like cancer, HIV/Aids Alzheimer's and hepatitis C.
And work is on-going to see whether it can have a role in reducing the effects of diabetes and heart disease.
The UN's food arm, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), wants producers in countries from Mauritania to Kazakhstan to start selling camel's milk to the West.
It hopes donors and investors will help develop the market.
'Humps in production'
Meat and dairy expert at the FAO Anthony Bennett said: "The potential is massive. Milk is money."
He said there were 200 million potential customers in the Arab world and tens of millions more in Europe, the Americas and Africa.
He suggested the market could be worth at least £5.6 billion although improvements are needed along the supply chain.
"No one's suggesting intensive camel dairy farming, but just with improved feed, husbandry and veterinary care daily yields could rise to 20 litres," he added.
And since fresh camel milk fetches roughly a dollar a litre on African markets it would mean serious money for the nomadic herders who now have few other sources of revenue, he added.
Tapping the market for camel milk, however, involves resolving a series of humps in production, manufacturing and marketing, the FAO said.
One problem lies in the milk itself, which has so far not proved to be compatible with the UHT (Ultra High Temperature) treatment needed to make it long-lasting.
But the main challenge stems from the fact that the producers involved are, overwhelmingly, nomads.
A spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Camel's milk could be a useful addition to the diet as it contains calcium and B vitamins and is lower in saturated fat than cow's milk.
"However, it is more expensive than cow's milk and does have quite an acquired taste that some people may not like."
Published: 2006/04/21 12:11:18 GMT
the camels had better be treated well....or else they will have me to deal with
Maybe you would like this story tooformat_quote Originally Posted by Hatshepsut
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/v...S&id=43d8b5c34
Somali refugees pin hopes on camel-herding - in snowy Norway
OSLO Jan. 26 (UNHCR) – Camels are rare in Norway, mostly seen in papier-mâché form during Christmas pageants, but a group of Somali refugees resettled in the Norwegian countryside is now hoping to keep as many as 20 of the humped animals.
"Many of my friends just simply cannot wait until the camels get here," said Abdirahman A. Isman, a refugee from Somalia who has lived in the rural municipality of Loeten for eight years.
Keeping camels in Norway might sound a bit eccentric, but the hope is that these camels will create jobs and improve the integration of refugees resettled to Loeten.
"Many of our refugees, particularly those from Somalia, have extensive knowledge and experience in camel husbandry, and why shouldn't we – an agricultural community – use this resource to our benefit?" asked Wenche Stenseth, in charge of integrating refugees in Loeten.
Despite Norway's bone-chilling winters, camel species native to Mongolia and Tibet should have no problems coping with snow and sub-zero temperatures, she said.
As Loeten, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Oslo, is also vying to become a major ski resort with hundreds of lodges and holiday apartments, many are hoping the camels would become a tourist attraction too.
"We think this is a great idea," Isman said, who kept a herd of around hundred camels in Somalia before being forced to flee his native country.
"Visitors could come here to ride the camels, buy souvenirs of camel hide and hair, eat and drink camel meat and milk, which are very tasty," he added.
The plan is to keep the camels at local farms, where they would be jointly taken care of by farmers and Somali refugees. An additional benefit of this set-up is that it would aid in the integration of the local Somali population as well, Stenseth said.
Norway annually welcomes 1,500 UNHCR refugees for resettlement, and every year about 10 of these find a new home in Loeten.
In total, the township of 7,500 has received several hundreds of refugees over the years, and now has large and vibrant international community that includes many immigrants as well.
"They really constitute a massive resource, and we are stupid if we do not take advantage of that," said Stenseth.
"All refugees in Loeten want to get a job, contribute and pay their taxes to the society," she added. "Camel husbandry can create many new jobs within various fields, not only for refugees but for all. It's only our minds that set the limit."
Stenseth has just sent an application to the Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDI) for a grant of some $125,000 for a feasibility study on the project, and both she and Loeten's Somali population are eagerly awaiting its outcome.
"Even though it might be a bit unusual, we see this as an ordinary application for financial support and will process it accordingly," said Geir Halmrast, head of IMDI's operations in eastern Norway.
"Generally speaking, we see it as very positive that people consider new and innovative ways to improve integration, particularly when these build on the resources and skills of the refugees," he concluded.
yep thats my somali people for ya...nomads to the core...what would we do without our beloved camels....
Camel's milk hits UK shelves. From another continent?
Them's some high-pressure udders.
And in all seriousness, this is cool. I'd like to drink some camel's milk.
i dont like camel's milk...come to think of it i dont like any kind of milk...weak bones i know...i fell over as a kid and banged my arm against the wall and guess what...it broke and i also dislocated my shoulder....i broke the same arm again and once again..three times for the road....my mom told me a really funny story about what my sister use to do in regards to camels and their milk...but im not gonna say or i will be KILLED
Salaam o alaikum,
Peace,
SubhanAllah, the wonders of Allahs creations.
Thanks for the interesting posts Hei Gou.
Alaikum Salaam,
Peace.
HeiGou, the sis was right in another post, you ARE a human google- (Thats in a good way
)
Camels are amazing creatures. They rock! I love riding Camels every time I go Africa. Each and every one has a different personality, and they can get stubborn as anything. I definately want to own some camels when I start earning.
[BANANA]banana and I are missing camel:'( :'( [/BANANA]
*thinks to ask mum to lug home some camels from uncles farm*
Salamu alaykum.
They say if you ever see camels compulating - they will never forget it and will track you down and get vengence on you for it.
I wonder if thats why so many Arabs are migrating? :P
I think if I ever saw camels >cough< >cough< I would never forget it. There's an imagine that would stay with you for a long long long time!format_quote Originally Posted by azim
But somehow I don't think camels feel a lot of shame.
they do too!!But somehow I don't think camels feel a lot of shame.
camel milk is very healthy ive drunk it a few times but didnt like it...my father LOVES it
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